ACM Honors Show Packs In Surprises, Emotional Moments And Memorable Performances

Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban (Photo: Getty Images/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music)

Although the honorees, presenters and performers for last night’s (8/21) ACM HONORS show in NASHVILLE were known in advance (NET NEWS 5/20, 5/28, 7/23 and 8/12), the show still managed some surprises, emotional moments and memorable performances. Among them, TRISHA YEARWOOD, who had been scheduled only as a presenter, opted to perform a song in tribute to honoree and WME partner GAYLE HOLCOMB. Another surprise came when pop singer TONY ORLANDO took the stage to accept the large capacity Casino Of The Year trophy on behalf of CONNECTICUT’S MOHEGAN SUN ARENA, where he has frequently performed.

Songwriter Of The Year honoree SHANE MCANALLY gave the night’s most emotional acceptance speech. Tearing up, the hit-maker said, “I really didn't know you could be in Country music and be gay. When I came out to my mom, she was so scared that I wouldn't get this dream, that this wouldn't happen for me. And this town has never for a minute made me feel anything but loved and accepted."

LAUREN ALAINA also got emotional while paying tribute to honoree MARTINA MCBRIDE, who took ALAINA out on her first tour and has remained a mentor and friend to the young singer. ALAINA performed “Independence Day” in tribute. “You are my hero," she told MCBRIDE. “You literally taught me how to sing. I would sit in my bedroom and play your CDs over and over again, and try to hit the high note … I couldn't do it for a really long time! I remember the first time I hit the big note in ‘Broken Wing,’ my parents ran upstairs. It was, like, the most joyous day of my life." These days, ALAINA said, MCBRIDE, “goes to lunch with me and lets me just cry, and tells me it’s going to be OK.”

In accepting her CLIFFIE STONE Icon Award, MCBRIDE said, “All I ever wanted to do is sing and carry the flag for Country music … I wanted to create a body of work that means something to people, and to do it with integrity.” She also thanked Country radio for its support, while noting that she doesn’t believe message songs like her “Independence Day,” “Concrete Angel,” “A Broken Wing” and others would get played on today’s Country radio.

In a night of great performances, a highlight came at the end when KEITH URBAN and honoree MIRANDA LAMBERT sang a duet of the latter’s hit, “The House That Built Me.” View a clip from that performance on the ALL ACCESS NASHVILLE FACEBOOK page here. In honoring LAMBERT with the GENE WEED Milestone Award, URBAN congratulated “my badass friend” on staying true to her path and not following trends in music. Accepting her award, LAMBERT said of the business, “Some days I feel like I’ve been doing it two days and some days it feels like 200 years … Today feels like two days.

Presenter BOBBY BONES of iHEARTRADIO got some laughs by poking fun at himself, noting that he was once fined $1 million by the FCC, then joking, “That’s still less than the amount of money I spend on spray tans every year.” He also took a good natured jab at Country radio, noting that he received some criticism for creating the weekly “Women of iHEART Country” show. He said people ask him why he doesn’t create a “Men Of iHEART Country” show, then quipped, “that already exists, it’s called ‘radio.’”

Four of last night’s honorees, including KACEY MUSGRAVES, RODNEY CROWELL, BROOKS & DUNN and BILLY JOE SHAVER were not on hand to accept their awards. BROOKS & DUNN accepted via video message. The night’s other performers were CAYLEE HAMMACK, CHRIS JANSON, MADDIE & TAE, ASHLEY MCBRYDE with band-mate CHRIS HARRIS, MIDLAND, TENILLE TOWNES and CHRIS YOUNG.

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